Contents

Elective requirements

Complete requirements 1, 2 OR 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 OR 8.

Requirement 1. Take a communications-related training course consisting of at least 15 hours of training and education. This course could be conducted through your local school, community education system, local hospital, college/university, or your own Venturing crew. It could be an official coaching, referee, sport official, and/or athletic trainer program. It could cover such topics as mass communication, sportswriting, technical writing, newspaper editing, film and/or video production, journalism, or coaching. At the conclusion of the training course, review with your Advisor the information and skills taught in this communications course and how they relate to either a particular sports program and/or health and physical fitness in general.

Requirement 2. Read at least two books approved by your Advisor related to a particular sports program of your choice. Some suggested topics are sports injuries, anti-doping, disabled sports organizations, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, etc. Prepare and submit a written report of not less than 1,000 words on each of these books. The two reports should cover the following items:

Why did you pick these books over other written material?

What are the important communication principles and concepts related to the sport that you picked?

What are specific ways you can apply these principles in your own sporting activities and/or crew events?

Present your report to your Advisor and/or crew for review.

Requirement 3. Interview two or more individuals (coaches, trainers, referees, umpires, college or university sports information directors, sports-writers, reporters, photographers, amateur and/or professional players, therapists, etc.) associated with a particular sport you have an interest in. Prepare an oral and/or written report of at least 1,000 words to your crew and/or another youth group you are associated with detailing the information obtained from these interviews.

Requirement 4. Make a tabletop display, an oral presentation, or a videotape production for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout den or pack, Boy Scout troop, or another youth group on the importance of communication in sports. This presentation should emphasize the role(s) that effective communication plays in accurately participating in any sporting event or program.

Requirement 5. Ethics and cooperative games

a. Take part in the BSA Ethics in Action program See footnote and participate in at least one sports-related ethical controversy. Some examples are:

Amateur athletics

Drugs and steroids

Parental involvement

Coaching in youth sports

Gambling and betting on sporting events

Racial/sexual discrimination/biases

Sportsmanship: A dying concept?

Footnote: For details on the BSA Ethics in Action program, please refer to the information provided in the Venturer Handbook and the Venturing Leader Manual (Chapter 9).

b. Conduct at least one sports-related (separate from the one used in 5(a) ethical controversy activity and/or ethics forum.

c. Along with your crew or another youth group, participate in two cooperative games (one in each category)

Outdoor activity game

Indoor activity game

Requirement 6. Prepare a sports communication pamphlet, athletics-related product, or promotional piece emphasizing your local BSA council and/or district sporting event, local school sporting event, or community activity. Some examples are a media and recruiting guide, sports schedule poster and/or schedule card, game program, pre- season and post-season media guide, school sports club newsletter, alumni update, game notes for local and/or regional news media, audio/video presentation, or Web site. Include visual as well as written forms of communication in your final product. Have two individuals (one with expertise in this particular sport) review the material and provide written critiques of your work. Make whatever suggested improvements may be suitable based upon this input. Share this information with your Advisor and crew. Then actively promote the event and/or sport with this product.

Requirement 7. Research the role the media has in a specific sport. Provide an oral report and explain to your Advisor or crew the positive and negative impact the media may have on this particular sport and how a person can deal with the perceived conflicts that may arise.

Requirement 6. Research the education requirements necessary for a communications/sports journalism major at your local college and/or university. Prepare a tabletop display or presentation for your crew or another youth group detailing the classes, internships, and career paths available to graduates in this particular major.